While religion has the power to bring people together, it can also be a serious topic of contention. In fact, the human race can typically be split into three different groups: some people believe in God, others aren't sure what to believe, and then some people are devout atheists. If you've been around long enough, you've probably met at least one of each. But have you ever wondered which category some of your favorite Hollywood stars fall into? We have - so we've put together this list of celebrities we didn't realize don't believe in God.
Brad Pitt
You probably don't need us to tell you who Brad Pitt is. This guy's name is everywhere, and it has been for decades. He's made a name for himself as a hugely popular actor and famous figure, and so, naturally, everyone wants to know everything about him - including his stance on religion and the church. Well, the Fight Club actor isn't 100% sure on whether he believes in God or not.
Although it's often stated that Pitt is 100% an atheist, it seems as though that's not the case. He once told reporters that he would say that he's 20% atheist and the other 80% agnostic.
Joaquin Phoenix
Joaquin Phoenix is one of the most famous actors out there. This man has put his name to movies such as Joker, Walk the Line, Gladiator, and Napoleon, and he's made his mark as a man who likes to make a stand. After all, he's also a huge animal rights activist and has been vegan since he was just three years old. But what you might not realize is that Joaquin was actually brought up in areligious cult called Children of God.
But it seems as though this experience of living within and then leaving the religious cult affected his relationship with religion. Since then, he has confirmed that he is an atheist and doesn't believe in religion as a whole.
Helen Mirren
Many British actors have been able to make their mark in Hollywood, and Helen Mirren is one of them. This lady has been in front of the cameras for decades, and this has allowed fans to get an even closer look into the life and times of Helen Mirren. But what about her faith? Well, Helen doesn't exactly know where she stands when it comes to religion. In her eyes, she's more spiritual than religious.
In fact, she's even described herself as a Christian who doesn't actually believe in God. She's said, "I am quite spiritual. I believed in fairies when I was a child. I still do sort of believe in the fairies."
Julianne Moore
There's a high chance that you're familiar with Julianne Moore, as this woman has huge acting credits to her name. She's starred in movies such as Still Alice, May December, and Hannibal, and she's been in the acting world for decades. But it turns out that she's also been an atheist for decades. In fact, she stopped believing in God when she was five years old, shortly after her mom passed away.
Julianne has also been very outspoken about her atheism, but that she also understands how some people rely on their faith to get themselves through the tough times in life.
Daniel Radcliffe
When you think of Daniel Radcliffe, you probably think of Harry Potter, right? And while this actor regularly talks about his magical childhood in the press, he's also spoken out about his religious beliefs. In fact, he's confirmed that he is an atheist through and through - despite the fact that his father is Protestant and his mother is Jewish. But Radcliffe just doesn't have those same beliefs in God.
While speaking to Parade, Daniel told the reporter that religion can often be too black and white. As a result of that, it doesn't allow for human complexity or autonomous human decisions.
Tom Hanks
Talk around Tom Hanks is pretty uncomplicated. Most people agree that this actor is one of the best actors in the world and that his work will go down in history as some of the best in Hollywood history. However, it's fair to say that his history with religion is very complicated. When he was a child, Tom Hanks was raised Mormon for many years before his family converted to the Catholic faith. Then, when he married Rita Wilson, he converted to the Greek Orthodox Church.
Because of this to-ing and fro-ing, Tom doesn't really know where he stands. He doesn't believe himself to be an outright atheist, but he also doesn't associate with one religion more than the other.
Amber Heard
Unfortunately, the careers of actors in Hollywood are often marred by their personal circumstances - and that's certainly what's happened with Amber Heard. While she was once known as a talented actress, most people now know her for her high-profile divorce and subsequent lawsuit with Johnny Depp. But amongst the hubbub of this infamous trial, Amber Heard's thoughts about religion and the church have also gotten lost. After all, she was raised Catholic.
Despite her religious upbringing, Amber Heard has since declared herself an atheist. She has noted that this change of heart came about when her best friend sadly passed away after a devastating car crash.
Angelina Jolie
While Angelina Jolie has certainly made her mark in Hollywood as an actress, there's no doubt about the fact that she's also got people talking with her other endeavors. For starters, she was married to Brad Pitt - who is also on this list! But alongside that, she's also a huge advocate for refugees and those less fortunate, and she's adopted three children alongside her three biological children with Brad Pitt.
And while she hasn't spoken in detail about her religious beliefs, she has confirmed that she doesn't believe in God in the traditional sense. However, she does believe in the existence of a higher being.
Alan Cumming
Although Scottish actors aren't too common in Hollywood, there's no doubt about the fact that Alan Cumming has been able to stake his claim in Tinseltown. The actor has been able to dominate the stage and the screen, and blown fans away with his accent work and his singing talent. But while Alan's family are extremely religious, he's not been shy about the fact that he doesn't believe in God or religion at all.
In his eyes, people believe in God because they feel as though they have to - rather than actually feeling that belief within themselves. As he's not a believer, he doesn't join his family at church.
Kevin Bacon
Kevin Bacon is the kind of guy who can do everything. He can act, he can sing, he can dance, and he's someone who isn't afraid to speak his mind. In fact, he uses his creativity as a way to express his feelings and his beliefs about the world - and he's even explained his atheism in songs for his band, The Bacon Brothers. To be more specific, his song "Children" was written to showcase how religious violence can damage children.
Kevin is a proud atheist, and while he's not explained his reasons why in too much detail, he once told reporters that he wanted the state and the church to be completely separate entities.
Keira Knightly
Keira Knightly has been in the spotlight for decades, and this has led many fans to believe that they know everything there is to know about this actress. But what many people don't realize is that she's actually an atheist. She's been fairly open about this fact in the past, telling many reporters that she outright doesn't believe in God. But that doesn't mean that she doesn't appreciate religion at all.
In fact, she told Interview Magazine that she wished that she believed in God so that she could ask God to forgive her for things she had done in the past. However, she's still an atheist.
Bjork
It's fair to say that Bjork isn't like other Hollywood A-listers. This Icelandic singer-songwriter and composer dances to the beat of her own drum - and we saw that for ourselves when she turned up to the 73rd Academy Awards in her infamous swan dress. But does Bjork believe in God? Well, the singer has gone on record to say that the only thing she 100% believes in is herself.
As an atheist, Bjork does not traditionally believe in God. However, she has stated that she appreciates many of the teachings in Buddhism and that the natural world is the almighty force in her life.
Hugh Laurie
If you've ever watched the show House, you'll know that Hugh Laurie is a force to contend with. This actor has been able to win fans over with his talent, his accent work, and his general presence in Hollywood - and it seems as though they can't get enough of him. But while Hugh tends to keep his personal life private, we do know that Hugh was raised in a very religious home.
But he's since proclaimed himself to be an atheist, stating that he believes in medical science and facts rather than the existence of God. So, he no longer follows any religion.
Jodie Foster
If you know anything about Jodie Foster, you'll know that she's very firm in her beliefs. She believes in facts and figures, and she believes in understanding the whole human race. In fact, she even studied African-American literature at the prestigious Yale University. And while she doesn't believe in God and is a proud atheist herself, she completely understands and appreciates the many different religions around the world. She wants her kids to do the same, too.
Over the years, Jodie and her family have learnt about different religions so that her children can understand the belief systems of other people. In her eyes, this is extremely important.
Woody Allen
When it comes to movie directing, Woody Allen definitely knows what he's talking about. This man has over 50 movies to his name, including some of the most famous films of all time. But while he's known for bringing the likes of Midnight in Paris, Annie Hall, and Manhattan into our lives, he's also dealt with a huge amount of controversy - mostly because he is married to his adopted step-daughter.
But one thing you might not know about Woody is that he was brought up Jewish and even attended Hebrew school for eight years. Now, he believes that God did exist at one point, but he believes that He's now dead.
Uma Thurman
You might know Uma Thurman for her impressive acting career, but do you know about Uma's intriguing upbringing? Uma was actually raised by a father who spent three years living as a Buddhist monk and the rest of his working career as a professor of Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Studies. With this in mind, it would be very easy to assume that Uma was also raised as a Buddhist and still follows Buddhism today. But that's not the case.
She's previously said, "When asked if I consider myself Buddhist, the answer is, not really. But it's more my religion than any other because I was brought up with it in an intellectual and spiritual environment. I don't practice or preach it, however."
Morgan Freeman
In a Hollywood sense, Morgan Freeman is God. He took on this role in the iconic Bruce Almighty film, and today, many people associate his soothing voice and his calm demeanor to be incredibly god-like. Because of this, it might surprise you to learn that Morgan doesn't believe in God himself. Instead, he believes that the human race made up the idea of God but that he doesn't exist and hasn't existed as a living entity.
Morgan even traveled the globe for his documentary The Story of God with Morgan Freeman. For this, he interviewed religious icons, leaders, professors, historians, and scientists - but it still didn't change his mind.
Ricky Gervais
English comedian, writer, actor and all-rounder Ricky Gervais is credited for bringing The Office into our lives, but there's no doubt about the fact that his comedy has caused controversy over the years. He's not afraid to say what he really feels, and a huge amount of his work over the past few years has been focused on religion. In fact, his show Afterlife is loosely based on his atheism.
Ricky hasn't always been an atheist, though. He was brought up religiously and believed in God until he was around eight years old. Since then, he has taken part in numerous campaigns for a secular state.
Lacey Chabert
You might know Lacey Chabert for her role in Mean Girls and countless Hallmart movies, but over the years, Lacey has made a name for herself as one of the most intriguing celebrities in Hollywood. In fact, Lacey's religious beliefs have led to many questions over the years - and that's because she sees herself as a "practical Christian." So, she is not an atheist, and she does believe in God.
However, she chooses to see God spiritually and morally. She doesn't like to follow strict religious rules but has instead found her own relationship with God and religion.
Billy Joel
Over the course of his career, Billy Joel has been celebrated as a musician time and time again. His songs have topped the charts, he's been awarded countless awards, and his fans have followed him around the world. And while Billy has a lot of religious fans, many are aware of the fact that this singer is an atheist and doesn't believe in God. In fact, his views haven't changed since the 1980s.
Billy has been open about the fact that he doesn't believe in God, but he did tell Howard Stern that he feels a strong pull towards spirituality - especially when it comes to karma.
Tom Cruise
You might be surprised to see this man on the list. After all, while Tom Cruise is known for his impressive acting career, he's also known for his associations with a rather infamous church. For decades, Tom has been a member of the Church of Scientology, and it's been noted that he's one of the church's most prominent and high-level members. But one thing about Scientologists is that they don't outright believe in God.
L. Ron Hubbard describes God as the "eighth dynamic," and the religion focuses more on the power and the god-like powers of the mind rather than an actual god. In fact, Scientologists reportedly have the power to become gods themselves.
Ian McKellan
You might know him as Ian McKellan, but did you know he's actually Sir Ian McKellan? This English actor is a wholesome addition to Tinseltown, putting his name to movies like The Lord of the Rings, X-Men, Cats, and King Lear. But one thing you might not know about Sir Ian is the fact that he does not believe in God - and even if God existed, he still wouldn't believe in Him.
Although he hasn't outright explained why he is an atheist, it's believed that his sexuality has had something to do with that decision. In fact, he has campaigned tirelessly for the LGBTQ+ community over the years.
Bill Maher
Many of the celebrities on this list were raised religious but have since branched out to become atheist in their older years. And that's exactly what Bill Maher did. The comedian and writer was actually raised in a very strict, religious house when he was a child - but he often felt torn between his mom's Jewish beliefs and his dad's Catholicism. He leaned more towards Catholicism, but that all changed when his father left the faith when Bill was 13 years old.
After that, Bill explored his own beliefs and came to the conclusion that he was indeed an atheist. Many of his comedy routines now center around faith, and he even released a documentary called Religious.
Howard Stern
Howard Stern isn't the kind of celebrity to shy away from his feelings. He's found himself in hot water numerous times due to the content of his radio show, and some of this has revolved around religion. That's because Howard is a prominent atheist and isn't afraid to share that with his viewers. In fact, he's regularly spoken out about the fact that he doesn't believe in God - and he definitely doesn't believe in the afterlife.
When asked about his thoughts on the afterlife, Howard noted that humans simply lie underground and get eaten by worms when they're dead. And it seems as though his beliefs are pretty set in stone.
Kathy Griffin
If you know anything about Kathy Griffin, you'll know that this woman isn't afraid to speak her mind. In fact, this has gotten her in a lot of trouble over the years! But it seems as though this comedian doesn't want to censor herself, especially when it comes to views around hard-hitting topics such as AIDS awareness and LGBTQ+ issues. As you can imagine, she's also had a lot to say about religion.
Despite being raised Catholic, Kathy has been an atheist since the 2000s. She confirmed this in a very dramatic way at the 2007 Emmy Awards when she proclaimed that she was to thank for her award - and not God!
Seth MacFarlane
Known for bringing animated characters to life, Seth MacFarlane is a huge name in the comedy world. We have him to thank for bringing the likes of Family Guy and Ted onto our screens, and many of his fans find him extremely funny and talented. But what you might not know about Seth is that he was due to fly on the hijacked American Airlines Flight 11 on September 11th, 2001.
While some would say that his missing his flight was an act of God, Seth wouldn't agree. As an atheist, he believes it was a complete coincidence caused by the fact that he was incredibly hungover.
Joe Rogan
Even if you're not familiar with his face, there's a high chance that you're familiar with Joe Rogan's voice. After all, this American UFC commentator, comedian, television host, and popular podcaster is always on our airwaves - and he's certainly not shy when it comes to the content of his podcasts. Joe is all about transparency and honesty, which is why he hasn't held back regarding his religious beliefs.
His own personal opinion is that God doesn't exist, and he believes that those who believe in religion are stupid. As you can imagine, this didn't go down with some people.
Sean Penn
Whether you know him for his marriage to Madonna or his work in movies like Milk, I Am Sam, or Fair Game, Sean Penn has certainly staked his claim in Hollywood. Everyone seems to know his name and his romantic history. However, one thing many people don't know is where he stands in regard to religion. That's why it might surprise you to know that he was raised Roman Catholic.
But the older he got, the more he began to realize that he was simply following the religion expected of him. He later became agnostic, before defining himself as fully atheist.
Larry King
Larry King was once one of the most famous radio and TV hosts of all time. And while some would say that he's since been overtaken by newer faces, there's no denying that his legacy still lives on. After all, he asked his guests some of the most hard-hitting questions - and over the course of his career, he interviewed over 60,000 people. But did you know that Larry is an atheist?
He's confirmed this news a few times over the years, and he linked his atheism with his libertarianism. In his eyes, he believes that all libertarians should also be atheists.
Jack Nicholson
If you can't look at Jack Nicholson smiling without thinking of The Shining, then you're not alone. But Jack is so much more than this horror story. He's put his name to countless productions over the years, and he's definitely a living legend. But in an intriguing turn of events, Jack is also an atheist who prays! Yes, he's confirmed that he does often pray - but not in a religious sense. Instead, he prays in more of a superstitious sense.
That's because he was raised in a strict Catholic household and grew up praying as a way to connect with God. He became an atheist in high school, but still sometimes prays because he thinks he has to.
John Lennon
Although he's no longer around, there's no denying the fact that John Lennon is still having a major impact on the world. From his music career and his legacy with The Beatles to his charitable work and activism, John Lennon will forever be remembered for the legend that he was. But those who have taken a deep-dive on Lennon's lyrics will know that he wasn't a fan of organized religion.
In his song "God," Lennon confirmed that he was an atheist and questioned the belief that God existed. Considering he was raised Christian, this took many of his fans by surprise when it was released.
David Cross
If you've ever watched shows like Arrested Development, The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret, and Modern Familly, you'll definitely know who David Cross is. This actor and comedian has been able to make a name for himself within the sitcom world, but he's also been able to branch out into movies - and this has just skyrocketed his career. Interestingly, David was also raised Jewish - but now identifies himself as atheist.
During an interview in 2008, he told reporters, "I was raised Jewish, but I don't believe in God. I'm not Jewish, and I don't hold those beliefs." He hasn't said much else on the matter.
Stephen Fry
Is there anything Stephen Fry can't do? Well, we're not sure. This English actor has starred in some of the biggest movies and television shows while also being a radio presenter, comedian, writer, narrator, and director. As if that wasn't enough, he's also a certified genius with an IQ of between 150 and 155. But what's so interesting about Stephen Fry is that his beliefs have fluctuated over the years.
Although Stephen was raised as an atheist, he started to believe in God when he was a teenager. But when he rose to fame, he confirmed that he was once again an atheist.
Patton Oswalt
Patton Oswalt is a celebrated comedian, but he's also the kind of comedian who has been able to dominate on-screen. He's starred in movies and television shows, and he's the kind of guy who isn't afraid to shy away from certain jokes. Yes, these include those about his own personal life - and his own personal beliefs! In fact, his 1996 comedy special is the reason why we know he doesn't believe in God.
In more recent years, he's spoken more about his atheism - but he doesn't outright believe that religion is a bad thing. Instead, he can understand how it can bring people together.
John Malkovich
With countless awards to his name, John Malkovich is the man. He's been able to turn his hand to some of the most intriguing characters on our screens, and fans have fallen in love with him because of it. But did you know that John is an atheist? John is the kind of guy who can believe anything that he sees with his own eyes and he's a firm believer in facts and science.
However, where he struggles is when it comes to believing in God. While he appreciates those who are religious, he's never found the pull of religion strong enough for himself.